ACR B757 UNABLE TO GET LNDG CLRNC FROM TWR DUE TO CTLR TALKING WITH PREVIOUS LNDG ACFT. MADE A LNDG WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative

THE CAPT WAS INSIDE THE OM ON AN ILS APCH DURING VMC. I CONTACTED THE TWR AT THE MARKER FOR A LNDG CLRNC AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE BEHIND A LNDG ACFT AHEAD ON THE SAME RWY. THE ACFT AHEAD WAS TOLD ABOUT OUR PRESENCE AS HE WAS TURNING OFF ('B757 ON APPROX 1 1/2 MI FINAL'). AT THAT POINT THE PLT OF THE ACFT WHICH HAD JUST LANDED AND THE TWR CTLR ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION ABOUT TAXI INSTRUCTIONS AND ALSO ABOUT RWY CONDITION. THIS PLT HAD CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE RWY. THE CTLR HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED THIS PLT FOR CONFIRMATION ABOUT THIS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO BREAK INTO THEIR CONVERSATION. I TOLD THE CAPT WE WERE NOT CLRED TO LAND AND HE SAID TO 'TRY TO CUT IN.' I KEYED THE MIKE AND REQUESTED 'LNDG CLRNC.' THE CTLR CONTINUED HER CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER PLT. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE EVER EVEN HEARD MY SECOND REQUEST FOR LNDG OR NOT. I BELIEVE THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE CTLR HAD KEPT THE FREQ CLR BY HANDING THE OTHER PLT OFF TO GND CTL AFTER SHE GOT HER CONFIRMATION THAT THE RWY WAS CLR. WE ALSO COULD HAVE EXECUTED A GAR; HOWEVER; UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES (IE; NO COM WITH TWR); THE CAPT DECIDED IT WAS SAFER TO CONTINUE LNDG SINCE THE CTLR KNEW OF OUR PRESENCE AND PROBABLY EXPECTED US TO LAND.